Sonia Gandhi inaugurates ambitious zero landless project in Kerala

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched the ambitious 'Zero landless project' of the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala on Monday which aims at providing land to all the landless people by 2015. "So on 2015, the state of Kerala will become the first state in India where everyone has a home which, I believe, is the most remarkable achievement" said Sonia Gandhi once again praising the Congress-led state government in the state.

Sonia Gandhi in Kerala, launches zero landless project of the Congress-led UDF government

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched the ambitious 'Zero' landless project' of the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala on Monday which aims at providing land to all the landless people by 2015.

Sonia Gandhi takes part in the debate in Lok Sabha on Food Security Bill

New Delhi: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while taking part in the debate on historic Food Security Bill in the Parliament requested all the members to pass UPA's flagship welfare scheme to provide subsidized food to nearly 70% of population. While speaking in the Lok Sabha, a determined and confident Sonia Gandhi asserted, "Some people ask whether we have enough resources to successfully implement this bill. But it is not a question of how we find means to implement Food Bill; we have to find the way. The question is not whether we can do it or not; we have to do it. Some people also ask whether this bill is beneficial for the farmers. I want to underline that we have always given prominence to farmers and agriculture".

Sonia Gandhi calls Food Bill historic, says Congress is keeping its promise

New Delhi: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while taking part in the debate on historic Food Security Bill in the Parliament requested all the members to pass UPA’s  flagship welfare scheme to provide subsidized food to nearly 70% of population.

While speaking in the Lok Sabha, a determined and confident Sonia Gandhi asserted, “Some people ask whether we have enough resources to successfully implement this bill. But it is not a question of how we find means to implement Food Bill; we have to find the way. The question is not whether we can do it or not;  we have to do it. Some people also ask whether this bill is beneficial for the farmers. I want to underline that we have always given prominence to farmers and agriculture”. 

“We had promised in 2009 that we will bring the Food Security Bill to provide subsidized food grains to the poor and I am happy to say on behalf of my party that we are fulfilling that promise” added Sonia Gandhi. 

She also listed some of the major legislations brought in by the UPA Government and said that the Food Security scheme is the fifth in the raw after the RTI, MNREGA, RTE and Right to Forest Act. “The food Security Bill is thus the fifth in a series of what might be called a right-based approach which provides legal entitlement to the people, puts pressure on the executive to be more responsive and accountable and also puts in place a credible mechanism  to redress grievances. This approach, I believe, will bring in about an empowerment revolution in our country something we are proud to have facilitated”.

 Sonia Gandhi said that our goal must be to wipe out hunger and malnutrition from our country. “This legislation is only the beginning as we move forward we will be more open to constructive suggestions and we will learn from experience” added the Congress President.  “We have today, an opportunity to transform the lives of tens of millions of our people and I believe that we must, together, rise to the occasion, set aside our differences, and a firm act of commitment to their welfare and well-being. It is my fervent hope and humble appeal that we, as the representative of those very people, should convert this Bill into an Act and do so unanimously” concluded Sonia Gandhi.

The Food Security scheme has been championed by Sonia Gandhi and is being seen as the one of the land mark legislation brought in the Centre. The government introduced the Food Security scheme as an ordinance in July which must get the nod of the Parliament before September 6.

Sonia Gandhi speaks at the inaugural function of National Media Centre in New Delhi

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday inaugurated the National Media Centre. While addressing the gathering Sonia Gandhi, who is also the Congress President, said that media need not be the enemy of the government and also said that the government welcome all criticism. In her address Sonia Gandhi asserted “Media and the government often disagree. The editorial columns and the voices of the prime time news provide ample evidence for this. But I venture to say that this can be healthy and there need not be any antagonism between the two”.

Sonia Gandhi: Media need not be Government’s enemy; we welcome all criticism

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday inaugurated the National Media Centre. While addressing the gathering after the inauguration of the centre, Sonia Gandhi, who is also the Congress President, said that media need not be the enemy of the government and also said that the government welcome all criticism.

In her address Sonia Gandhi asserted “Media and the government often disagree. The editorial columns and the voices of the prime time news provide ample evidence for this.  But I venture to say that this can be healthy and there need not be any antagonism between the two”.

Sonia Gandhi also said that well-intentioned criticism of the policies of the government by the media was welcome, as the media played an important watchdog function. “We welcome the watchdog role of the media and well founded and well intentioned criticism of our policies and programmes. We recognise that there could be shortcoming that needs to be highlighted” said the Congress President.
”Our media has evolved over the years into a vibrant and matured institution that cherishes its freedom and independence and exercise it with a commendable responsibility at least most of the time. Its sheer diversity ensures that on balance it functions to benefit the institutions of democracy and democratic foundations of our society” she added.

The National Media Centre, located at 7-E, Raisina Road, is spread over a 1.95 acre plot on Raisina road here and equipped with latest technologies of information dissemination. It will have offices of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) as well as special facilities for media. The Centre has been constructed by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) at a cost of Rs 60 crore over a period of three years with a total covered area of 13,867 sqm. The plot size is 7787.46 sqm (1.95 acres).

It has a press conference hall for 283 media persons, a briefing room for about 60 persons, 24 work stations for journalists, a library, media lounge and cafeteria. The press conference hall and media lounge are wi-fi enabled. Among the facilities provided at the centre are optic fibre Internet backbone with redundancy, mini data centre for application development and hosting webcast, including live webcast, Video feed to TV channels, IT facilities to media persons in work area and lounge, Internet telephony and AV Video Wall. The world class media centre will have two basements, a ground floor and four floors above it.

The Centre was initially conceptualised by the PIB in 1989 to facilitate greater interaction between the government and the media with a state-of- the-art equipped media centre.

Text of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi’s speech

Sonia Gandhi at the launch of 850 MW power project in Kishtwar, J&K

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Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while speaking at a function in Kashmir said that the rural development has been a priority for Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre. She began the two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir along with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday to launch various development projects in the state. On Tuesday morning, Sonia Gandhi along with the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the 850-MW Rattle hydro power project in Kishtwar district of Jammu region

Sonia Gandhi in Kishtwar, Jammu Kashmir at the launch of 850 MW power project

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while addressing a public rally in Kashmir said that the rural development has been a priority for Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre. She began the two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir along with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday to launch various development projects in the state. On Tuesday morning, Sonia Gandhi along with the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the 850-MW Rattle hydro power project in Kishtwar district of Jammu region.

Sonia Gandhi in J&K highlights UPA’s commitment for rural development

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while speaking at a function in Kashmir paid tributes to soldiers killed in a militant attack in Srinagar. She also said that the rural development has been a priority for Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre. She began the two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir along with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday to launch various development projects in the state. On Tuesday morning, Sonia Gandhi along with the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the 850-MW Rattle hydro power project in Kishtwar district of Jammu region.  

While addressing the function Sonia Gandhi said, “We cannot forget the tragedy which struck this state yesterday and also we cannot the disaster took place in Himachal and Uttarakhand. My heart goes out to the soldiers who laid down their lives in Srinagar on Monday and I express my sincere condolences to their families. I also salute our brave soldiers who have been putting all their sincere efforts in the rescue and relief operations at the flood-ravaged Uttarakhand”.

“UPA government at the centre gave priority for rural development across the country, especially to improve connectivity” said Sonia Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi also praised former J-K Chief Minister, for the development works undertaken under him in the state. “Indira Gandhi had a special love for this state.  She was very much concerned about the development here.  With this intention only she had laid the foundation stone for Dulhasti power station in Kishtwar.  Like his mother, Rajiv Gandhi also had paid special attention for development of this back ward region of the hill state” added Sonia Gandhi.

Striking an emotional chord with the Kashmiri people, the Congress President said “I am proud that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have shown determination to put the state on the path of peace, progress and development.  Further it is a matter of pride that the number of IAS, IFS officers from Kashmir has gone up. It shows there is tremendous potential among the Kashmiri youth and if given a chance, they have the talent to perform at all levels”. She also stressed that the ecology and biodiversity should be protected while carrying out development projects. 

The Congress President also shared that the UPA Govt at the central has launched several schemes for development and employment generation. "The Centre has launched Udaan and Himayat schemes for upgrading employment skills of the youth in the state”, she said. She also reminded about the ‘UMEED’ scheme for women, which was launched by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi recently, for making the women of the state self-reliant.

Before departure for New Delhi June 26, Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister will inaugurate the 11-km-long railway tunnel across the Pir Panjal mountain range, connecting the Kashmir Valley with the Jammu region, cutting short the surface distance between Kashmir and the Jammu region by 17 km. The tunnel will also provide all-weather access across the Pir Panjal mountain range.

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway often gets closed in heavy snowfall during winter, causing regions across the Pir Panjal from Jammu to be cut off - at times for a few months - each year.